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lhviTnn STATES PATENT (Enrica "WARREN H. TAYLOR, OF STAMFORD, COXNEGTIOUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE YALE ("s TOIVNE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,268, dated February 21, 1888.

Application filed November 19, 1887. Serial No. 255,012. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, WARREN H. TAYLOR, of Stamford, in the county of Fairiield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Locks, of which the following is a specification, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates particularly to that class of locks in which the tumblers are contained in a separate escut-cheon or tumblercase-such, for instance, as the well-known Yale locks; and it has for its object the prevention of the removal of this escut-cheon or tumbler-case, except by one who is in possession of the key for unlocking the lock, and who, therefore, may be presumed to have the right to remove the escutcheon.

The usual method of fastening an escutcheon in place is by means of a set-screw passing through the face of the lock and engaging with a groove or other depression in the periphery of the escutcheon, so that when the set-screw is turned out the escutcheon can be removed. There are also other methods of fastening in the escutcheon; but heretofore locks have been so constructed that when the door was open and the face-plate accessible any person with a screw-driver or the point of a knife could release the set-screw or other stop, so that the escutcheon could be unscrewed or otherwise removed. If such person desired to effect an entrance to the room or house, he could release the set-screw or other stop sufficiently, so that while the turning of the key to throw the bolt would not turn the escutcheon the escutcheon could be turned by the application of slight force. Then, after the owner had left the door looked, as he supposed, the evil-disposed person could return and unscrew the escutcheon, or otherwise remove it, and have access to the interior of the lock, so that he could unlock it. My invention removes this source of weakness and provides a fastening for the escutcheon in the interior of the lock, which can only be released by means of the proper key acting through the escutcheon itself. It is evident that if any one has the proper key to the lock he can gain access to the room, and so will have no object, except a proper one, in removing the e-scutcheon.

My invention consists in the special means of fastening an escutcheon within the interior of a look, as hereinafter specified, and succinctly summed up in my appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a lock containing my improvement, one plate of the lock being removed; and Fi 2 is a view of one side of an cscutcheon decached.

Referring to the letters upon the drawings, A indicates a lock-case, B a lock-bolt, and G a screw-threaded escutcheon set into the case in the usual way. D indicates a set-screw, and E a forked slide adapted to enter the grooves in two opposite escutcheons and hold them in place.

The devices thus far described are all old.

Coming to what is new, I provide a tailpiece, F, upon the keyplug X, which projects below the periphery of the cscutcheon when the plug is in the proper position for removing the key, as shown in Fig. 1. This tail piece or projection in that position bears upon or engages with the lock -case, so that the escutcheon cannot be unscrewed or removed; but when the key is inserted and the plug turned part of a revolution the tail piece will assume the position shown in dotted lines, when the escutcheon can be unscrewed and removed after removing the ordinary setserew escutcheon fastening, E. (Shown in Fig. 1.)

This invention is adapted to be used with different varieties of locks having cscutcheons or tumbler-cases of similar nature.

In the drawings are shown several ordinary parts of a lock which I do not describe, because they form no part of this invention.

I have taken out a United States Patent, No. 373,253, in which I show several varieties of devices of this general nature for securing escutcheons in place, and in which I have made a broad claim, and I therefore do not escuteheon, except by use of the key, substantiaily as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

W'ARREN H. TAYLOR. \Vitnesses:

SOHUYLER MERRITT, E. D. OGDEN. 

